Offense
The quarterback room and offense as a whole center around Florida transfer DJ Lagway. There is no denying Lagway’s talent, be he had two up-and-down seasons at Florida. Lagway’s dad was a running back at Baylor, so DJ says he is living his childhood dream playing for Baylor.
The running back room will be led by Dawson Pendergrass, who missed last season with a foot injury. He rushed for 671 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. The backfield will also feature Caden Knighton, Michael Turner, Jacorey Watson, and true freshman Ryelan Morris.
The wide receiver room returns Louis Brown IV, who missed last season with an injury, along with Jadon Porter and tight end Matthew Klopfenstein. The additions of Jayden McGowan (Charlotte), Gavin Freeman (Oklahoma State), DeBraun Hampton (Florida), Dre’lon Miller (Colorado), and tight end Tony Livingston (Florida) are big.
The offensive line room returns Kaden and Koltin Sieracki. The additions of Lawson Petty (Incarnate Word), Yakiri Walker (Memphis), Cooper Lovelace (Colorado), Nate Kibble (Texas), Cole Rhett (Toledo), Logan Moore (UAB), and Asher Hale (South Alabama) are massive for this unit.
Defense
The defensive line room must get more pressure than they did last season. Devonte Tezino and Kyler Jordan both return. The additions of Hosea Wheeler (Indiana), Jordan Mack (Coastal Carolina), Jamaal Whyce Jr. (Marshall), Kamren Washington (Texas State), Zavion Hardy (South Carolina), and Daemion Wimberly (UTSA) are massive.
The linebacker room will also look to create more havoc. Experience returns in Kyland Reed, Travion Barnes, and Kaleb Burns. The additions of JJ Shelton (Arkansas), Kedrick Walker (Georgia State), Ryan Davis (Kansas State), and Garrick Ponder (Southern Miss) are massive for this unit.
The secondary returns Levar Thorton Jr., Jacob Redding, Reggie Bush II, Micah Gifford, and Devin Turner. The additions of Jayden Rowe (Kansas State), Stilton McKelvey (New Mexico State), Devon Jordan (Oklahoma), Austin Ausberry (LSU), Anthony Crenshaw Jr. (Delaware), Daniel Cobbs (Kansas State), and Colby McCalister (Kansas State) are big.
Specialists
Punter Palmer Williams returns and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award last season. He should have a fantastic senior season. Rhett Armstrong should handle the kicking duties. He was the kickoff specialist last season.
2026 Schedule
- 9/5 vs Auburn in Atlanta, GA
- 9/12 Prairie View A&M
- 9/19 Louisiana Tech
- 9/26 Colorado
- 10/3 at Arizona State
- 10/17 TCU
- 10/24 at Kansas
- 10/30 at UCF
- 11/7 Iowa State
- 11/14 at BYU
- 11/21 Texas Tech
- 11/28 at Houston
Final Analysis
Pressure is on to win and win now for head coach Dave Aranda. Baylor has a new athletic director, so that adds a wrinkle into things as well. DJ Lagway has all the tools as a quarterback and pieces around him to be successful. Living up to all the pressure to win will either sick this team or help them thrive.
